What is a good tongue weight?
Good tongue weight is typically about 10-15% of the trailer’s GVWR for bumper-pull setups, and around 20-25% for most fifth-wheel trailers. In practice, aim toward the lower end for lighter rigs and the higher end for heavier loads, then verify with actual measurements on your vehicle and hitch.
Understanding tongue weight
Tongue weight is the downward force that the trailer exerts on the tow vehicle’s hitch. It helps balance the load between the trailer and the tow vehicle, affecting steering, braking, and overall stability. If the tongue weight is too light, the trailer can sway or lift the front wheels of the tow vehicle; if it’s too heavy, steering and braking can become sluggish and the rear tires may overload.
Why it matters
Proper tongue weight ensures the tow vehicle maintains adequate front axle load for steering and braking, improves trailer tracking behind the tow vehicle, and reduces sway. The right range varies by trailer type and equipment, so understanding your setup is essential before hitting the road.
To guide your planning, consider these ranges as starting points:
- Bumper-pull (tow-behind) trailers: roughly 10-15% of the trailer’s GVWR; a common target is about 12-13% for comfort and stability.
- Fifth-wheel trailers: typically about 20-25% of the trailer’s GVWR; many operators aim around 22-23% to balance the weight with the tow vehicle’s rear axle.
These ranges are general guidelines. Always confirm compatibility with your hitch and tow vehicle specifications, and adjust for specific loads and road conditions.
How to measure your tongue weight
Accurate measurement is the best way to ensure you’re in the safe and recommended range. Use a dedicated tongue weight scale or weigh at a certified scale, or consult your trailer manufacturer for the recommended method with your equipment.
- Identify your trailer’s GVWR and the hitch rating on your tow vehicle to establish allowable tongue weight.
- Choose a measurement method: a tongue weight scale, a certified weigh station, or a two-step scale method commonly used with Cat Scales or similar facilities.
- Weigh the trailer with the load as you will tow it, ensuring the hitch is engaged and the vehicle is on level ground.
- Record the tongue weight as the downward force measured at the hitch. Compare this value to the target range for your trailer type.
- If necessary, adjust cargo distribution, reposition items in the trailer, or use a weight distribution hitch to achieve the desired tongue weight and improve handling.
After taking measurements, keep a record of the tongue weight for future trips, and recheck if you change majorly how you load the trailer.
Practical considerations and tips
Several factors influence the ideal tongue weight beyond the basic percentages. Consider vehicle payload, hitch type, and how the load is distributed within the trailer.
- Check the hitch rating and the tow vehicle’s maximum payload to ensure the measured tongue weight is within safe limits.
- For heavier tongue weights, a weight distribution hitch (WDH) is often recommended to keep front axle weight on the tow vehicle and to minimize sway.
- Distribute cargo toward the forward half of the trailer’s axle(s) to increase tongue weight, but avoid overloading in a way that shifts too much weight onto the trailer tongue or rear axle of the tow vehicle.
- Regularly recheck tongue weight after loading or reconfiguring cargo, especially on long trips or when crossing steep grades.
Balancing tongue weight with overall vehicle capacity helps maintain steering response, braking effectiveness, and trailer tracking in varying road conditions.
Common mistakes to avoid
Avoid common pitfalls that can compromise safety and handling when towing.
- Ignoring hitch ratings or exceeding the tow vehicle’s payload capacity with tongue weight.
- Relying on guesswork without measuring tongue weight, especially after changing cargo or trailer configurations.
- Overweight tongue weight that reduces front axle loading and impairs steering or braking on hills and curves.
- Skipping the use of a proper hitch or WD system when needed for the load, leading to unstable towing dynamics.
By avoiding these mistakes and verifying tongue weight with measurement, you can improve safety, control, and comfort on the road.
Summary
In short, a good tongue weight depends on trailer type: about 10-15% of the trailer’s GVWR for bumper-pull trailers and roughly 20-25% for fifth-wheel trailers. Accurate measurement is the surest way to confirm you’re in the right range. Use appropriate equipment, distribute weight thoughtfully, and choose a hitch system that matches your load and vehicle capabilities. Regular checks after changes to cargo or routes will help maintain safe towing performance.
What is the ideal tongue weight?
roughly 10 to 15 percent
What Is Proper Tongue Weight? For conventional trailers with ball-mounted hitches, proper tongue weight is roughly 10 to 15 percent of the total loaded trailer weight.
How to tell if tongue weight is too heavy?
Tongue weight should be about 10% to 15% of the total weight of the trailer or gross trailer weight. Too much tongue weight can impair driver control over the vehicle, and too little can lead to sway in the trailer.
What does 200 lbs tongue weight mean?
Tongue weight is the amount of weight a trailer puts on the towing vehicle's trailer ball. The tongue is the part of the trailer that sticks out ahead of the cargo area; it's typically two rails that form a V shape, but sometimes it's just a single rail.
Is 20% tongue weight too much?
A good rule of thumb for an acceptable tongue weight for a trailer is to keep the weight between 9 to 15 percent of the gross trailer weight (GTW). For example, if you tow a 5000-pound trailer, the tongue weight should be approximately 600 pounds.
